I'm sorry Jaronk, I know I mentioned it in the other thread but . . . "fear"
has really been quite thouroughly researched.
Here's
all the relevant information.
Caedrus's terror inducing party.
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=949947The basis of which was Dictum Mortuums ever informative.
Demoralize optimization
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=911167It's basically everything you need to build up fear based pcs. Almost all the relavant info.
What else... hmm...
It is an interesting use of:
"Midnight_v's Reactive Rage"(MRR) LOL Intimidating rage + Imperious command + instantaneous rage or ferocity variant (which is relavant because it spares the builds a feat),
but you keep forgetting the most important part of that combo... You can rage while flat-footed on someone elses turn as part of initiative, which means everyone cowering people on the first turn.
Well quite frankly a better version of that would include either jotunbrood or dreadful wrath.
Also you forgot fearsome armor also gives +5 circumstance bonus on intimidate checks so in most cases if you have that you dont' even need the levels of dread pirate for the intimidate bonus beyond +2 really the the acrobatic charge is why I prefer it to scarlet corsair though....hmm...
I've been trying out builds like this all day really, for Alastar's no spellcasters pbp.
The last thing I was working on putting bloodstorm blade 5 in the mix with a subjegating weapon from heroes of battle, are you familiar with it?
Barbarian1,ftr 3 (zhent sub levels), warblade 1, bloodstormblade 5, Dread P. OR scarlet Corsair 5, Bldstorm6-9
You'll have the MRR trick
a +45 or better bonus on intimidate checks and consitent cowering from either dreadful wrath or a thrown subjegating melee weapon. Which can attack all opponents at range (as a melee attack)
... I suppose I could just use boomerangs too, but the axe or hammer flyng around is so much more thematic I think....
My post from the other thread (can't figure out how to sblock here)
Both Pirate prc's Dread pirate and scarlet corsair do that in 5 levels.
Samurai in 10 though you get both at the same time, you aren't forced to play through shitty levels of sam.
I know this cause I've been playing around with fear builds all day...
The barbarian gets to do it as an immediate action and even when flatfooted soo... you never lose initiative if the opponent is within 30ft.
Even at that Zhent fighter has access to diplomacy and bluff as well I kinda think its more the substitution fighter than the samurai, I guess it works for them too but... I gues I don't like it because it goes off so late.
I think something like Barbarian1/zhent soilder3/rogue 1/scarlet corsair 5 gets to pull that stunt perday as much as you have rages an extra rage or 2 10 level cowering of all its pretty strong. Give it the basis of charging builds and you're running amok.